UB denies crucial science staff shortages

Sources at the University of Botswana (UB) have blamed an acute shortage of laboratory technicians that hampers crucial experiments for science students on micromanaging recruitment by the Vice-Chancellor.

Employees, who spoke to Mmegi on conditions of anonymity, said there is a novel arrangement in which applications for posts of laboratory demonstrators/technicians are screened at departmental level, sent to the faculty and then to Vice Chancellor (VC) Thabo Fako's office for approval. Sources in the various departments have said this has caused an acute shortage of lab technicians and resulted in practical lessons in the Faculty of Science not being done.